Hypebot.com is raffling my book! How dope!
The described the stores in The Record Store Book as “These outposts anchor the music scenes for the communities they serve; and, as far as I’m concerned, deserve to be places on the National Historic Register.”

Photographer Mike Spitz takes us back a few decades when listening to music meant visiting a local record store, flipping through the bins, purchasing a record because of an interesting cover photograph or design, bring home a particular sound and letting the needle hit the vinyl. His new book, The Record Store Book, published by Rare Bird Books, takes us on a vinyl journey visiting the places and people that celebrate records. The book is enriched by interviews and text by Rebecca Villaneda and it will be sold at Urban Outfitters (US & Europe), bookstores, and select record stores with worldwide distribution. On April 18th, Mike and Rebecca will be signing books (on Record Store Day!) at Jackknife Records (11-1pm) and Record Parlour (2-4pm) in Los Angeles, ending the day with a big party and book signing at the Regent Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

WOW!!! I’ve never signed so many books or that many of anything for that matter! What a beautiful, exhilarating rush! I feel so blessed to have this opportunity in my life. I brought my 14-year-old niece, Anna, with me to experience this milestone moment and she was such a great supporter. Julia, Rare Bird’s Director of Marketing and Publicity, was on hand to help Mike and I get through the stacks and stacks of “The Record Store Book” that will soon be delivered to the record stores and book stores that will be selling them in the near future! Here’s some photos of the great day in Rare Bird’s downtown Los Angeles office.

I received an email today from the Norwalk Records store manager, Edie Gonzales, and it warmed my heart. I anticipate that this is the first of many emails to get from people featured in the book:

Hello Rebecca,

Just received our book from Amazon and what beautiful work you and Mike did. It certainly is a Beauty and looking forward to meeting you on RSD at Rockaway Records. And also picking up a few more copies. Thank you sooo much for considering us to be in this gem of a book it certainly is an “Honor”. I have been employed here for over 31 yrs and I’ve seen the rise of vinyl and fall and now pretty steady. It made our day today and we can’t stop looking at the book were all taking turns.

Again Thank you for all you did to put together this amazing piece of art.

PS. Is there a special link for our customers to buy the book anyone in particular I am gonna post it up on our IG & FB and would like to provide a link.

Rebecca Villaneda is a Los Angeles-born writer educated in southern and northern California. Her second book, “The Record Store Book,” is a collaboration with photographer Mike Spitz and features 50 independent vinyl record stores in and around Los Angeles. It will be released April 14, 2015 and available for purchase at select retail locations, including Urban Outfitters or various online book stores.